NHTSA Complaint #764808 — 2000 FORD FOCUS

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH ON I5 WITH A FULL TANK, GAS PIPE LINE UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE BROKE AND I WAS SPILLING GAS ON ALL VEHICLES BEHIND ME. ANOTHER MOTORIST SIGNALED TO ME AND I PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT GAS TANK WAS ALMOST EMPTY. TEMPERATURE ON THAT DAY WAS 115F. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SMELL THE GASOLINE. I AM A SMOKER BUT WAS NOT SMOKING AT THE TIME AND WAS ABOUT TO LIGHT A CIGARETTE WITH MY FLAME LIGHTER. THE PATROL OFFICER MADE ME OPEN THE TRUNK AND THE SMELL TOOK US ABACK. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN OFF FLASHING LIGHTS AND ROLL DOWN WINDOWS WHICH I COULDN'T DO AS I DID NOT WANT TO TURN ON THE MOTOR AGAIN. CAR WAS TOWED TO ATHENS AUTO REPAIR IN REDDING. THE GAS PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY BECAUSE THE NEEDLE TO REGISTER IF PUMP WAS FULL OR EMPTY HAD ALREADY FAILED AT 70.000 MILES. I DRIVE 1,000 MILES A WEEK SINCE I WORK EVERY DAY IN OROVILLE (200 MILES ROUND TRIP).*AK